Douluo Continent: Who says evil soul masters can't achieve sainthood through merit?

When Ye Guyi walked out, the entire women's clothing section seemed to brighten up a bit.

The pure white long dress accentuated her slender waist, and the skirt was as light as a cloud.

Her lightly made-up face was fair and radiant under the light, her long golden hair cascading over her shoulders, with a few stray strands clinging to her cheeks.

Her eyes were still pure gold, but now they had lost some of their usual sharpness and gained a touch of girlish gentleness.

She walked up to Li Qing, twirled around, her skirt billowing in the air: "How was it?"

Li Qing was silent for a few seconds, then nodded: "Not bad, it looks pretty good. Try some others."

For the next half hour, Ye Guyi tried on all three dresses.

Each piece seemed tailor-made for her—the pale gold accentuated her noble elegance, while the light purple added a touch of mystery and charm.

When she came out of the dressing room, even the sales assistant couldn't help but exclaim, "This young lady looks good in anything!"

After changing back into her own clothes, Ye Guyi went to the counter and asked the sales assistant, "How much?"

The waitress smiled and calculated: "The three dresses are all custom-made from top-quality silk, plus the labor cost... approximately 100,000 gold soul coins."

"Ten...ten thousand?!" Ye Guyi was stunned on the spot.

This number was astronomical for her.

Over the years, she has been chasing after evil spirit masters, occasionally taking on missions to earn commissions, and all her savings amount to only a few thousand gold spirit coins.

One hundred thousand?

How many years would it take to save that up?

"It's too expensive, I..." She bit her lip, preparing to put the clothes back.

Just then, a gold card was handed to the waiter. Ye Guyi turned her head and saw Li Qing's calm face.

"wrap up."

He said, then looked at Ye Guyi and demanded, "Go pick out some more jewelry and shoes. You have a nice face and good temperament, but your outfit is a bit... well."

Ye Guyi lowered her head, her cheeks burning.

She understood what Li Qing meant—her previous attire was indeed simple, even shabby.

But what could she do?

She had no money or connections, and couldn't afford those expensive clothes.

The waiter, with his sharp eyes, immediately recognized the extraordinary nature of the gold card and became even more attentive: "This way, miss, the jewelry section is on the second floor."

Before Ye Guyi could say anything more, Li Qing waved to her, indicating that she should finish buying first.

An hour later, when Ye Guyi reappeared in front of Li Qing, she was almost a completely different person.

She changed from the pure white dress to a light gold one, which better accentuated her divine aura.

Instead of the high-heeled boots she wore before, she was wearing a pair of exquisite white high heels with tiny crystals inlaid on the surface.

Her long golden hair was tied up with a hairpin inlaid with a sapphire, and she wore matching earrings on her earlobes. A delicate chain around her neck held a small angel wing pendant.

Under the lights, she seemed to glow—not with the holy light of a released martial spirit, but with a pure and bright radiance belonging to a young girl.

"Like a real angel," a woman passing by murmured in admiration.

Ye Guyi awkwardly tugged at her skirt, walked up to Li Qing, and asked softly, "Isn't this a bit too much?"

Li Qing looked her up and down, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes, but he simply said, "Not bad."

He walked to the counter and handed the gold card to the clerk.

The waiter took the card and swiped it on a soul guide device, which emitted a crisp "beep" sound.

"Sir, the total of 387,000 Gold Soul Coins has been successfully deducted. Welcome to visit us again!"

Three hundred and eighty-seven thousand.

Upon hearing this number, Ye Guyi felt her steps falter.

She had never seen so much money in her life.

Stepping out of the store, the night breeze was slightly cool.

The streets of Shrek City were still bustling, but Ye Guyi felt somewhat dazed.

She looked down at the long dress she was wearing, her fingertips brushing against the delicate silk fabric, the touch both unfamiliar and luxurious.

"Why are you so good to me?" she suddenly asked softly.

Li Qing walked half a step to her side, and turned to look at her upon hearing this: "Since you've chosen to follow me, why would I be stingy with you? Besides, it's not my money, so I certainly don't care."

Ye Guyi was taken aback at first, then suddenly realized: "This card... was given to you by Xiao Hongchen?"

Li Qing nodded, a subtle smile playing on his lips: "This card is linked to the Hongchen Family, and I probably don't need to elaborate on what the Hongchen Family does. Tell me, in this world, what power can rival the arms trade in terms of wealth?"

Ye Guyi gave a wry smile, somewhat unsure how to respond.

Yes, the Red Dust Family—the largest soul tool manufacturer in the Sun Moon Empire, with arms deals spanning the continent, making them incredibly wealthy.

As the heir to the family fortune, Xiao Hongchen probably has more wealth than even he can count.

"Can……"

She hesitated and said, "Won't he be angry if you just spend his money like this?"

"angry?"

Li Qing chuckled lightly and replied nonchalantly, "He'd love for me to spend more. Every time we talk, he reminds me not to strive for anything, not to be ambitious. Do you think he'd care about this little bit of money?"

Ye Guyi remained silent.

She recalled the phone call she overheard that day, in which a clear voice repeatedly urged Li Qing not to get involved in serious matters or to avoid internal competition.

The two walked slowly along the street, neither of them speaking.

Despite wearing expensive new clothes and shoes, Ye Guyi felt her steps were heavier than before.

She stole a glance at Li Qing's profile; the boy's delicate features flickered under the streetlights, his dark eyes always gazing ahead, unfathomable.

"Li Qing," she suddenly said.

"Um?"

"You said you had other business in Shrek City..."

Ye Guyi stopped, her golden eyes fixed intently on him, and asked, "That matter... was it dangerous?"

Li Qing also stopped and turned to look at her.

The night breeze ruffled the black hair on his forehead, revealing his overly calm eyes.

"It's alright, just so-so," he said honestly.

"Then I..."

"You stay in the city."

Li Qing interrupted her, calmly saying, "This is my own business, it has nothing to do with you."

"But I'm going with you now!"

Ye Guyi raised her voice a few decibels and said seriously, "You said you'd let me follow you!"

"But that doesn't mean I have to take you with me for everything."

Li Qing's tone turned cold as he warned, "You're staying in the hotel tomorrow, don't go anywhere."

The fewer people who know about Tianmeng Ice Silkworm and Ilex, the better, even if it's Ye Guyi right in front of us.

What if I say no?

The two men faced off in the middle of the street, while pedestrians walked around them, casting curious glances.

After a long while, Li Qing sighed, a sigh so soft it was almost inaudible.

He turned and continued walking forward, his pace quickening slightly.

Ye Guyi jogged to catch up, but the hem of her skirt and high heels were not quite right for her, and she stumbled. Li Qing instinctively reached out to support her.

Their hands touched briefly before quickly separating.

He turned his face away and continued walking forward.

"Li Qing," Ye Guyi called him again from behind.

"What's wrong now?"

"Thank you for the clothes."

She said softly, "It's beautiful, I like it very much."

Li Qing paused, but did not turn around.

"Um."

The night in Shrek City was still long, and the lights gradually went out, except for the direction of Shrek Academy, where there were still scattered lights.

Those lights belong to this academy with its millennia-old heritage, to countless genius soul masters, and to glory and legend.

But the two people walking side by side on the street at this moment, one carrying the black lotus that destroys the world, and the other carrying a holy angel, do not belong to the light, nor do they belong entirely to the darkness.

They simply walked on, into the night, toward an unknown tomorrow.